Connecter for repairing metallic measuring tapes



April 25, 1933. c, B'. ALEXANDER 1,906,128

CONNECTER FOR REPAIRING METALLIC MEASURING TAPES Filed Dec. 11, 1931 #4 w Q W J attorneys Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON B. ALEXANDER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CONNEGTER FOR REPAIRING METALLIC MEASURING TAPES Application filed December 11, 1931. Serial No. 586,469.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a connecter or devicefor repairing metal measuring tapes. In my Patent No. 721,411, granted February 24, 1903, there is shown a device for repairing metal measuring tapes which includes a sleeve formed from tubing which is flattened and provided with clamping devices for join Figure 1 is a plan view of a metal strip which has been perforated preparatory to the cutting of the strip into blanks for the forming of my improved connecter;

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the folding of the blank into U-shape;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the further foldin 2 allelism with the body portion of the blank, but spaced therefrom so as to receive the ends of the tape;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the final folded blank forming the connecter;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a connecter as shown applied to a' tape for joining the ends thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

In the carrying out of the invention, the

metal strip 1 having the edges thereof rounded, is perforated as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The perforations 2 and 3 are for the purpose of producing a sight opening, so that the ends of the tape may be of one of the side portions into par shape, thus providing abody portion witlf an upstanding side portion '8 and an upstanding side portion 9. The upstanding slde portion 9 is of slightly greater height than the upstanding portion 8. This 'upstanding portion 8 is then folded into sub stantial parallelism with the body-portion 7 but is spaced therefrom to provide a passageway 10 adapted to receive the ends of the tape which are to be'connected. The 0 side portion 9 is folded downinto a positiorf so as to overlap the side portion 8. When the side portions '8 and 9 are brought into lapped relation, the opening 4 in the side portion 9 at one'end thereof is directly over the opening 5 in the sideportion 8. The

opening 4'in the other end of the side portion 9 is directly over the opening 5 in the side portion 8. Screws 11, 11 are placed through the respective openings 5 and arego threaded into the openings 4. The openings 6, 6 are in the main body portion 7 and are directly beneaththe opening 5. The

opening 6 in the side portion 9 is directly over the opening 6 in the side portion 8. u 7 When a metal tape breaks, it is desired to join the ends ofthe tape so that the broken ends will abut, thus providing a tape of practically the same length as thetape before it is broken. "The section 12 of the tape is placed so in the connecter in the passage 10, and the end thereof is caused to contact with and abut against the end of the section 13 directly beneath the sight openings 2 and 3. The meeting ends are indicated at 14. This enables theone who is connecting the broken sections of the tape to see that the ends are properly brought together. The screws 11 are then turned in against the tape, and will indent or bend the tape. into the openings 6. These screws ar'e'so proportioned that they will firmly clamp the ends ofthe tape in the connecter and will also firmly join'the overlappingside portions ofthe connecter, thus forming in effect, a tubular connecter or device operating to accomplish all the functions of the tubularconnecter of my prior patent. While I have described the blank as folded into U-shape, after which one side is folded down and then the other, it will be under stood that these operations may all be performed in sequence in a single machlne.

Preferably, the strip is punched, sheared and bent into U-shape in one operation, that is,

5 the operation of one machine. It is then subjected to devices for folding theside portions into lapping relation as shown in Fig. 4.

The formed device is then presented to a threading tool for threading the opening 4.

The screws are inserted in these threaded openings, and this completes the connecter.

The connecter is very simple in construction.

Furthermore, connecters for different widths of tape may be made from the same strip of metal. .The only change'necessary is to vary thelength of the blank and the positioning of the perforations therethrough. This greatly lessens the cost of manufacture over the form wherein the connecters are made .from specially drawn tubing, and a tube for each size has to be provided.

During the cutting of the strip to form the blanks, the corners are rounded as-indicated at 15 in Figures 1 and 6 of the drawing.

'25 The blank is out so that when it is folded, any

burr left on the metal incident to cutting is at the inner "edge of the folded part. In the stock strip as furnished, the side edges are rounded and therefore, inthe complete-d connecter the edges of the ends are all rounded and the connecter is entirely free from any sharp corners.

It is obvious that. minor changes in'the details of construction can be made without deyparting from the spirit of theinvention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as newand desire to secu're'by Letters- Patent, .is

A connecterfor repairing metallic measuring tapes comprising a metal blank bent so as -to form a fiat sleeve adapted to receive the ends of the metal tape, the side portions of said blank being overlapped and provided with openings therethrough adjacent the ends, the opposite wall of the eonnecter having an opening of larger diameter in align- "mentwith each of the first-named openings, screws passing through the overlapping portions and having a threaded connection with the inner lapping portion only,'said screws having heads thereon overlying'the'outer lapping portion, said screws being dimensioned so as to securethe lapping sections in'intimate contact with each other and to engage the metal tape overlying the openings in the opposite wall ofthe connecter for bending said tape into said openings, and thus firmly joining the ends of the tape.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CLINTON B. ALEXANDER. 

